Kashmir Tourism Suffers Amid Tensions

An Indian paramilitary soldier stood guard during a strike in Srinagar. Feb. 17.

SRINAGAR – Simmering tensions remain in parts of Kashmir following the relaxation of a week-long curfew over the weekend, with sporadic clashes in Srinagar and in the region’s south – a situation that is already hitting tourism.

Clashes continued Sunday between stone throwers and police in Srinagar’s Old City and a heavy security presence remains in Sopore, Afzal Guru’s hometown. Police have arrested at least 53 people – including many alleged stone pelters – since the curfew began across the valley, a Jammu and Kashmir police spokesman said in a statement issued on Saturday evening.

On Saturday mobile Internet services returned after being disabled for exactly one week after the execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri man convicted for his involvement in an attack on India’s Parliament in 2001. Many in Kashmir – a region that is disputed by Pakistan and India – believe Mr. Guru did not get a fair trial.

In the aftermath of Mr. Guru’ hanging, unrest in Kashmir – which resulted in the death of three people, including a 13-year-old boy- has taken a toll on tourism in the region, which in recent years has become a popular destination for Indians and foreigners alike.

“This week we have received some booking cancellations from tourists of around 2%-3% per cent because of the Guru hanging,” estimates Ghulam Ahmad Mir, the tourism minister of Jammu and Kashmir state. But he is confident tourism will pick up again, with numbers increasing from last year. “I am hopeful that the people of Kashmir want to boost tourism themselves, with government support, as this is the best route to safety.” He added that 139 foreigners arrived safely in Kashmir on Friday, alongside 345 tourists from India.

Many who work in the tourism industry are already reporting slower business than usual.

Members of the Shikara Workers’ Union in Srinagar said that despite being winter there were fewer tourists than usual, due to the curfew. Shikaras are small crafts that ferry tourists to houseboats in the summer capital’s picturesque Dal Lake.

The owner of a small teashop in Gulmarg – India’s most popular ski resort – said: “Around this time of year we normally see a lot of foreign tourists. This year is different because of the hanging. We want to see a solution one way or the other to end this uncertainty around Kashmir and our business. We cannot have long-term plans amid this political chaos.”

Srinagar-based autorickshaw driver Asnam Sheikh also expressed fears for tourism prospects in the Valley in the wake of last week’s news from the Indian capital. The 38-year-old said: “Normally we would expect 500,000 Indian tourists this year, but because of the hanging of Afzal Guru we do not expect that many now. That is what people are saying.”

On Friday night, German tourists leaving Gulmarg were delayed leaving the resort as drivers refused to leave Tangmarg, a tourist stop off en route to Srinagar, until after dark due to reports of stone-throwing further along the road relayed by other drivers. Additional restrictions on movement were implemented late on Thursday due to a planned march on Friday called by Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has spoken against the hanging.

Mr. Mir said the difficulties experienced by tourists leaving Gulmarg Friday – a holiday resort in Muslim-majority Kashmir – were due to “extra precautions.”

“It was Friday so there were extra precautions by the Government side – this was required because there was much apprehension regarding disturbances. But on the whole the day went peacefully,” he said.

Newspapers were not printed for four days across the state as authorities sought to prevent unrest in the aftermath of Mr. Guru’s execution.

Jammu & Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Twitter denied that there were restrictions on the media, though local journalists disputed this.

Sameer Lone, a senior reporter for The Kashmir Monitor, an English language newspaper, said: “Gagging newspapers is counterproductive because then you get rumors that can further inflame the situation.”

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